By Taylor Mack
Many people make the careless decision to drive while using their cellphones at some point. The National Safety Council reported that cellphone usage while driving resulted in 1.6 million crashes each year. What can be done about this? Well, the freshmen forum pondered this question in the delivery of their bill Friday morning. Delegates Foster and White delivered a meaningful proposal for safety on our roadways. Forum Bill 32 aimed to limit cell phone use on roadways, excluding GPS. The bill proposed to increase safety on the roads and to encouraged individuals to pay more attention to their surroundings while operating a vehicle. If they did not obey this law, a $1,000 fine will be applied– a fine greater than that of any average ticket. This bill sought to lower the rates of car deaths due to phone usage. The law allowed police to write tickets for anyone using their phones while operating a motorized vehicle. This included texting, calling, and using apps. Texting and driving is responsible for 1 out of every 4 car accidents, a jarring statistic that drivers may reduce by refraining from using cell phones. As the committee began a pro-con debate, delegates asked thoughtful questions relevant to today’s society. A delegate inquired, “If this law is implemented, would individuals not be allowed to listen to music?” with a follow-up question, “What if there is someone in your family who is in a scary situation and needs your help?” The bill authors responded by saying, “It would be easy enough to pull over to the side of the road and still be safe.” While this is true, there is still the chance that individuals will answer their phone in the heat of situations. Therefore, it seems as if the cons outweigh the pros in this situation. This bill would most likely be suitable for our society. We live knowing that every time we drive technology could jeopardize our lives. Therefore, implementing this bill could quite possibly reduce those risks. Both pro and con speakers made valid points throughout the debate. The forum did not pass the bill partly due to the belief that individuals would use their cell phones regardless of the danger they might face. The participation of the delegates should be congratulated based on their commitment and diligence to the topic.
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